Regional Controller, South-West England
6.
asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has yet appointed a regional director or chief officer for the South-West of England to administer the National Insurance Act; what remuneration is to be paid for this post; and what qualifications and experience the person appointed, or to be appointed, will be required to have.
The National Insurance Act, 1946, is not yet in operation, but for purposes of planning and preliminary operations I have appointed a number of regional controllers and deputy regional controllers, including a regional controller for the South-West Region. This appointment was made in December, 1946, and carries a salary scale of £1,220-£1,550. The qualifications of the officer appointed include experience of administration on a large scale in connection with insurance and social services.
Will the Minister give the House the name of the person concerned, and an indication of his qualifications? Will he also take steps, when further Press notices are made of appointments of this sort, to see that details of qualification and experience are included, so that the general public may know something about the people who are to undertake work of this character?
Details were issued to the Press, including biographical notes of the experience of this officer. The name of the officer appointed is Mr. J. S. Pearce He has had many years' experience with the Ministry of Labour, and was a regional officer of the Assistance Board.
Personal Cases
8.
asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will explain the delay in answering inquiries by Mr. Washer, Plynlimmon, Chelsfield, Kent, particulars of which have been sent to him; and if he will take steps to deal with the matter immediately.
The particulars which the hon. Member sent me related to an inquiry by Mrs. Washer about her future position, and not by her husband. A reply was sent to Mrs. Washer on 15th April. She has also been seen by an inspector of the department who has explained the position to her. The delay in answering her inquiry is regretted. It was due to the very heavy number of inquiries regarding pensions received by my Department in recent months.
When will the Minister realise that a breakdown in administration is inevitable under State control? Will he take disciplinary action against those responsible for this inhuman treatment, and will he revert, as soon as possible, to this scheme being operated with the help of the friendly and approved societies?
I regret the delay, but I would point out that this scheme has never been administered by the approved societies, but by the administrative machine which I now have to use.
9.
asked the Minister of National Insurance why no reply has been received to communications sent by Mr. C. Carter, 16, Wickham Court Road, West Wickham, Kent, to his Department at Blackpool on 13th January, 17th February and 14th March; and if he will arrange for the matter to be dealt with immediately.
Mr. Carter's inquiry has now been dealt with, and he has been accepted as a voluntary contributor. I am having the handling of this case fully investigated, and will write to the hon. Member in due course.
May I, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, repeat my supplementary question on the previous Question?
14.
asked the Minister of National Insurance if his attention has been drawn to the case of Daniel McPherson, 31, Randolph Street, Cowden-beath, Fife, who claims to be suffering from pneumoconiosis which leaves him quite unfit for employment; and why this man is refused the treatment and compensation to which anyone suffering from pneumoconiosis is entitled.
My attention has been drawn to this case by the hon. Member on previous occasions. Mr. McPherson applied to the Silicosis Medical Board for a certificate that he was suffering from pneumoconiosis in April, 1946, and again in September, but on each occasion the Board, after clinical and X-ray examination, were unable to diagnose pneumoconiosis and consequently had to refuse a certificate. The Board's decision, which is given on the authority of not less than two members of the Board who are specially qualified to make a diagnosis of this disease, is conclusive for purposes of a claim to compensation.
Is the Minister aware that this man is totally incapacitated and that there is no question of any other complaint? Is he aware that the official statement sent in by his own doctor says there is a suggestion of pneumoconiosis? How can there be a suggestion of pneumoconiosis unless there are indications of pneumoconiosis?
The Silicosis Medical Board, with which I happen to have had a good deal of experience, has two functions, first, to diagnose this disease, and, secondly, to decide whether the disease incapacitates the worker, and if so, to what degree. In this case, a third application has been made by Mr. McPherson, and he will be examined in the near future. Perhaps the hon. Member will await the decision of the Board.
I hope that they will do a good job this time.
Disabled Ex-Servicemen (Consultations)
10.
asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give an assurance that he will consult with organisations representative of disabled ex-Servicemen before making regulations under Section 30 of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946, and Section 30 of the National Insurance Act, 1946; and when such regulations are likely to be drawn up.
The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I cannot yet say when the regulations will be made.
Unemployment Benefit (Waiting Days)
13.
asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps he proposes to take to rectify the anomaly arising from the fact that, during the recent crisis, people who became unemployed after 10th February did not have to put in the three waiting days before drawing benefits, whereas the mass of people rendered unemployed owing to the coal shortage before 10th February had to put in three waiting days.
The requirement of three waiting days still remains, but any such days occurring on or after 10th February may be paid for later, if certain conditions as to continuing unemployment are satisfied. On whatever date a change of this nature had been introduced, there would inevitably be a difference between the treatment of past cases and of those arising subsequently, but this cannot be regarded as an anomaly.
In view of the fact that the day chosen has no real substance, the stoppage having started a long time before, will he reconsider cases anterior to that date?
This change had to be made by regulation, and there are certain limitations which this House places on Ministers in making their regulations retrospective.
Unemployment Assistance, North Staffordshire
16 and 17.
asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) what is the percentage of men and women on the register of the Unemployment Assistance Board in North Staffordshire who are no longer considered to be fit for normal work; and whether he will give a classified list of the incapacitating causes;
(2) if he will state the total number of men and women registered in North Staffs with the Unemployment Assistance Board for the month of March, 1947; what age groups, in terms of 10-yearly intervals, they fall under; and the approximate duration of unemployment in each class.The average weekly numbers of payments of unemployment assistance at employment exchanges in North Staffordshire in the four weeks ended 11th April, 1947, were 557 to men and 14 to women. These figures include 165 payments in supplementation of unemployment benefit. The other information asked for could only be obtained by special investigation but some of it will, I hope, become available from an inquiry which the Board are now making. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the results are before me.
Is my right hon. Friend aware that we have in the staple industries in North Staffordshire an appreciable number of men who have suffered from industrial disease, particularly silicosis, who are compelled to go on working because there is no alternative suitable employment; and does he appreciate that I am asking these two Questions to obtain evidence upon which to ask for a shelter factory for such people; and if I obtain the evidence will he give all assistance?
We have recently brought the new unemployment benefit into operation, and I have been disturbed by the number of persons who have not been able to find employment over a long period. They number several thousands. We are making a special inquiry into these cases, and I hope shortly to be able to make the results of that inquiry known.
Silicosis Medical Board, South Wales
19.
asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps he is taking to strengthen the staff of the Silicosis Medical Board in South Wales.
I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that further steps were taken at the beginning of this year to strengthen the staff of the Board in South Wales when six new appointments were made, two of them to fill vacancies caused by resignation. There are now 15 doctors attached to the Board in South Wales as compared with 11 a year ago and eight two years ago.
20.
asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of applications for certificates received by the Silicosis Medical Board from coalminers in South Wales and the numbers who were certified totally and partially disabled for the first quarter of 1946 and 1947, respectively.
During January to March, 1946, 2,312 applications were received and 2,424 cases were dealt with by the Medical Board, of which 1,230 were certified to be suffering from pneumoconiosis. The corresponding figures for this year are: applications received 1,520, cases dealt with 2,545, of which 840 were certified.
Can my right hon. Friend say when he will be in a position to give some reason for this remarkable and welcome decrease in the number of applicants?
I am having a special inquiry made. The reduction is very substantial, and I hope to be able to indicate that there is a "turn of the tide," and that we are beginning to conquer this dread disease.